Two Gold Fanams of Rajaraja Chozhan I
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My note on Rajaraja Chozhan I gold coin, where he appropriates the frequent Chera emblems, Mazhu and Ankusham, after his first prominent victory over the Cheras. This note has appeared in the 2022 Deepavali Malar of OmSakthi magazine, Coimbatore.

Oswal Auction company has put on sale a coin with the legend, Keralandakan. This gold coin weighs 0.27 grams. Sri. Alakkudi A. Seetharaman has explained that this is the coin issued by Rajaraja Chozan I after his first major victory against Cheras in battle, “Kaandaluurc caalai kalam aRuttu aruLi”.

There is another related gold coin, of the same weight (0.27 grams), issued by Rajarajan I. This is put on sale by Marudhar Arts, Bangalore (Figure 2). In this coin, there is no inscription in Tamil script. Instead, there is a battle-axe (Mazhu), and an elephant-goad “ankusham”. Note that both ankusham and Mazhu are typically seen in Chera coins in Sangam era or even in Venad Chera coins when Cheras became under the rule of Chozha sovereignty. “vEzham uDaittu malainADu”- Auvaiyar. It appears that Chola chakravarti appropriates the typical Chera symbol, Parashu/Mazhu and uses it. It is interesting that the elephant goad, usually standing vertically along with bow-arrow in Chera coins is shown in a fallen position under the Cholas. In his later years, he builds the famous Dakshina-Meru at Tanjore, as Cheras are driven slowly from their Sangam Age capital, Vanji (Karur) first to Dharapuram, and then to AnjaikkaLam by Imperial Cholas. The hill in the Vanji city was called Meru ‘Axis Mundi’ and was used for Rajya Pattabhishekam by Cheras. The original Chera capital, Karur’s degrading was accomplished by Chozha kings’ campaign. This can be seen in Tiruppukazh, Kudaiyuur kaifiyat (Colin Mackenzie mss.) etc.,

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